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I’ve been rocking the first-gen AirPods Pro since 2021, so you can safely say that I take my time with gadget upgrades. But I was so shocked to see Apple’s new AirPods 5 are cheaper and better than the AirPods 4 that I initially thought I might’ve just found the easier upgrade decision of all time. But then, my sense of propriety kicked in: Experience has taught me to weigh my options carefully before buying anything, so I decided to compare (on paper, at least) the AirPods 5 with their counterparts from Apple: the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (ANC) and the AirPods Pro 3. Here’s what I found.
AirPods Pro 3 still offer the best noise cancellation
As much as I want to love the AirPods 5, and as much as I appreciate the fact that ANC is now standard on all Apple earbuds, the new model’s noise cancellation feature is significantly weaker than that on the AirPods Pro 3. According to the specs comparison on Apple’s website, the AirPods Pro 3 has “3x more Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) than AirPods 5.” This is the most important AirPods feature for me, and I’m seriously considering paying that $120 premium (at retail) for better ANC. Having said that, the AirPods 5 do get “1.5x more ANC than AirPods 4 (with ANC),” so it could be a good upgrade for many people.
AirPods 5 have the worst battery life (but it’s probably good enough)
According to Apple, the AirPods 5 offer up to five hours of battery on a single charge (with ANC on), and 22 hours of battery life if you include the power from the charging case. If you get the cheapest variant of the AirPods 5 (without wireless charging), these numbers drop to four hours on one charge, and 20 hours from the charging case. This is lower than the AirPods 4 (with ANC), which offer 5 hours of battery life and 30 hours including the charging case. The AirPods Pro 3 have the best battery life, with 8 hours of playback time on a single charge and 24 hours with the charging case.
The upgraded AirPods 5 are worth the extra $20
If you opt for the $149 variant of the AirPods 5, you’re getting improved battery life, on-stem volume controls, a wireless charging case, and a speaker for Find My. I think those features are easily worth the extra $20 over the base variant of the AirPods 5. I think the extra hour of battery life is an essential feature, and all the others are great quality-of-life additions. It’s nice to control volume by swiping the stem of the AirPods, and after switching to wireless charging last year, I can’t see myself going back. The case’s speaker, which plays a sound and allows you to locate it when it disappears into your couch, might be worth the cost all on its own.
AirPods 5’s fit may be better for some people
The AirPods Pro 3’s ear tips rest in your ear canal. This is optimal for ensuring the best noise cancellation and a secure fit, but it doesn’t work for everyone. I know quite a few people who prefer the AirPods 4’s design, where the earbuds rest outside the ear canal. The AirPods 5 follow the same design language and may be the better choice for some people.
You can’t use the AirPods 5 as a hearing aid
You can use your AirPods Pro 3 as a temporary hearing aid, but that doesn’t extend to the AirPods 5 or the AirPods 4. If you need Apple’s hearing health features, you should choose the AirPods Pro 3, which have been cleared by the FDA for use as a hearing-aid.
